Explore World War II and Other Wars discussion

If you are looking for a book on a particular subject, post what you are looking for here and the group will recommend some titles to you.

Okay, so, in my high school, WWI was basically just skimmed over. I took military history twice, and we learned a ton about WWII. I also took a Civil War class... But WWI is the one area I am really lacking. Does anyone have suggestions for good WWI books?

Right now I am reading by John Keegan. I have only read over the first hundred pages so far and it has proven to very informative.

I have not read this book but I have heard it is also a good read. by Barbara W. Tuchman.

I feel John Keegan's book is one of the best overviews of WWI. It's a bit dry but very informative. There are other books on particular battles I can suggest if you are interested.

The Guns of August is a must read. I think no military lit fan will be dissappointed over this book. It's truly a masterpiece.
Anyway, too bad it's so hard to find a copy of John Keegan's book.

I am looking for a book (or books) on medics and military engineers. Anyone can recommend something? :)

Hello Silvana,

I ordered The First World War by John Keegan online from Amazon.com. Since I joined the engineer field of the Army, I have been looking for books on engineers. Two that I have found are:

German Combat Engineers in World War II 1939-1945: A Photo Chronicle by Horst Riebenstahl

German Pionier 1939-1945: Combat Engineer of the Wehrmacht by Gordon Rottman

Unfortunately the add book/author is not working at the moment. I'll had the cover and link later. I hope these two help.

Martin

Thanks! I found another one...looks great First Across the Rhine: The Story of the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion in France, Belgium, and Germany

It does, thanks for the recommendation.

Jenn wrote: "Okay, so, in my high school, WWI was basically just skimmed over. I took military history twice, and we learned a ton about WWII. I also took a Civil War class... But WWI is the one area I am reall..."

There are so many really interesting books about WWI but you haven't defined whether your interest is military or political. In addition to Keegan (dry) and Tuchman,(really good) may I suggest the following (all quite good):

The Illusion of Victory: America in World War I Not very kind to Wilson.

Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour: Armistice Day, 1918 World War I and Its Violent Climax very readable.

The Donkeysthe stupidity of the generals

Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World I recommend anything related to Versailles as so many of today's problems originated in that treaty.

For fiction, its hard to beat All Quiet on the Western Front

I enjoy books that are WWII or WWI nonfiction but read like fiction. Sort of true life adventure stories. Any suggestions?

I recently read and loved:

A real page-turner.

Manila EspionageClaire Phillips

Since you recently read one of the Philippines this is a world war II story about the fall after MacArthur left. This is a fiction novel

Behind the Lines by W.E.B. Griffin

Diane, non fiction that reads like fiction: With The Old Breed by Eugene Sledge, Helmet For My Pillow by Robert Leckie, Goodbye To All That by Robert Graves, Band Of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose, Brothers In Battle, Best Of Friends by William "Wild Bill" Guarnere and Edward "Babe" Heffron, Parachute Infantry by David Webster.
Some fiction that reads like non fiction: Easter Day 1941 by G. F. Borden, All Quiet On The Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, Night Over Day Over Night by Paul Watkins, A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry

Thank you Martin and Dr. Mmichael for some great suggestions. I'll give one of them a try as soon as I finish with the 2 I am reading now (Band of Angels and Flyboys.) It's good to get recommendations from people with similar tastes.

Flyboys. The James Bradley book? I'd like to know what you think of that one.

Dr. Michael, I have mixed feelings. This is my second time reading it. I have to confess, I don't really have the stomach for some of the more horrific parts of it, but I am interested in the stories. I'll let you know if I make it through this time. I'm on page 84 (after skimming some parts that I couldn't get through the first time).

I am, at the same time, reading: We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped on Bataan by the Japanese I sometimes find that reading some of the behind-the-scenes lesser known stories, I learn more of the background of the battles.

Has anyone read: In it the author mentions an elite group of commandos trained to rescue soldiers being held in slave labor camps in Thailand. Does anyone know if there is a book on the subject of the commandos?

Diane wrote: "I am, at the same time, reading: We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped on Bataan by the Japanese I sometimes find that reading some of the behind-the-scenes l..."

Yes reading lesser known stories adds tithe background of the main stories we do read. Let me know how the story is.

I just read At Ease: stories I tell my Friends by Ike, Patton: the man behind the legend by Martin Blumerson, and Brothers/Rivals/Victors (about Ike, Patton, and Bradley) by Jonathan W. something (can't remember sorry) and I realize for all I know of the Western European theater I know next to nothing about the eastern front and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good book about the Russian front during WWII?

Joey wrote: "I just read At Ease: stories I tell my Friends by Ike, Patton: the man behind the legend by Martin Blumerson, and Brothers/Rivals/Victors (about Ike, Patton, and Bradley) by Jonathan W. something (..."
Hi Joey,
I am new to this group and am not certain of what all the rules are. I hope I am not breaking them by mentioning a book of my own.
Heinz Kohler
The book is a memoir written in novelistic form that discusses World War II as I experienced it as a boy in Germany. Among other things, it shows how my father ended up in a penal regiment on the eastern front after having been released from a concentration camp and what happened when the eastern front entered Germany and came to the village just west of Berlin where I lived. I should also note that this month I am giving away 10 paperback copies of the book at GR. Also, Amazon has a Kindle edition. Sample chapters appear at my website, where the paperback version is on sale. For more detail, please, do see my goodreads profile or visit www.mynamewasfive.com

Thank you for your recommendation it looks very interesting and I look forward to reading it

Hi Heinz,

WELCOME TO THE GROUP! I think you'll find we have a most remarkable membership.

I had the opportunity to see your website and if possible, I hope to be considered for a free copy of your book in paperback. As the son of a U.S. Army combat veteran of the War in Europe, who later worked in Germany (out of Wiesbaden) as a civilian employee for the U.S. Air Force at the time of the Berlin Airlift, I'm always interested in reading books by people who lived through the Second World War.

All the best.


KOMET

KOMET wrote: "Hi Heinz,

WELCOME TO THE GROUP! I think you'll find we have a most remarkable membership.

I had the opportunity to see your website and if possible, I hope to be considered for a free copy of ..."
Thanks for your interest. I will keep you in mind, but also try to sign up at the Goodreads giveaway program at my profile page.

KOMET wrote: "Hi Heinz,

WELCOME TO THE GROUP! I think you'll find we have a most remarkable membership.

I had the opportunity to see your website and if possible, I hope to be considered for a free copy of ..."

Sorry you didn't win the giveaway, but I do have just one extra copy left, which I would be glad to send. However, I don't seem to be able to send you a message directly and I do need an address....

Silvana wrote: "I am looking for a book (or books) on medics and military engineers. Anyone can recommend something? :)"
Hi, Silvana -- I'm an author and oral historian. I recently published a short book for Kindle and Create Space titled "A Medic's Story" by Edward Madden, who was a medic in the 90th Infantry Division. Also, my book "The D-Day Dozen" contains three interviews that you might find interesting. One is with a group of veterans from the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion, who landed on both Omaha and Utah Beach on D-Day. Another interview is with a dental surgeon who landed on Utah Beach and ran an aid station until he was wounded at St. Lo; and the third is with Dr. Jack Prior of the 10th Armored Division, who ran an aid station in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.

Joey wrote: "I just read At Ease: stories I tell my Friends by Ike, Patton: the man behind the legend by Martin Blumerson, and Brothers/Rivals/Victors (about Ike, Patton, and Bradley) by Jonathan W. something (..."

Joey, I am also just getting started in reading about things that happened on the Eastern Front. This book may not be your cup of tea, being more holocaust than military but I found this book interesting. It takes place in Belarus. It always amazes me at the various corners of the world that were effected by WWII.

Check out 'The Reign in Spain' by Galician author W. Kristjan Arnold. This entertaining historical novel encompasses the Spanish Civil War and WWII. Anyone interested in Spain, history, or military action will enjoy this read.